topic Where did my data go?? in Mobile Data

Where did my data go??

stephen5000 — Fri, 26 May 2023 13:25:47 GMT

I have a very modest monthly allowance, for 5 years I made do with 1Gb, though recently it has shot up to 5Gb! On average, I use about 300Mb to 500Mb/month, I rarely use phone when I'm out, and if I do, it's only when I have a good WiFi connection.

In the last 2 days 3Gb of data just disappeared. I confess to watching YouTube in a hospital appointment yesterday, BUT, I was fully connected to the hospitals WiFi. Unlike other utilities like electric/gas/water etc you can read a meter and monitor your usage which you pay for. 'Data' is a black hole where as a customer, you have no means to monitor where your data has gone, or how much is used on any particular application.

So, I used 3Gb in 2 days, more than I on average use in 6 months!

Is there a way to see where it went, and also, is there an app that puts a 'meter' in the top task bar than can display live usage of data?

Re: Where did my data go??

Chris_B — Fri, 26 May 2023 13:38:55 GMT

@stephen5000 You can see what apps are using what amount of data on your phone. You can check your data usage via the my EE app. The my EE app doesn’t log what apps use what amount of data it’s just an over all usage.

Re: Where did my data go??

stephen5000 — Fri, 26 May 2023 13:48:04 GMT

I know I can do that, however, the analogy I would draw is if you got in your car, after filling up yesterday, and half a tank was suddenly gone, you'd be curious on how that happened. It was a 'data alert' that informed me that 3Gb had disappeared.

I know the EE app doesn't monitor live where data goes, but are you aware of a 3rd party app that can display live when phone data is being used? I have now switched off my 'mobile data' option on phone as I'm concerned at being charged for data I haven't actually used, (like a faulty electricity meter can overcharge... )

Re: Where did my data go??

Leanne_T — Fri, 26 May 2023 14:45:25 GMT

Hi @stephen5000

You won't be charged for any data usage, you would need to purchase a data add-on if you run out.

What phone are you using?

Leanne 🙂

Re: Where did my data go??

stephen5000 — Fri, 26 May 2023 14:49:26 GMT

It's a CAT S52, yes, I know, you'll never have heard of it LOL It runs Android 10

Re: Where did my data go??

Leanne_T — Fri, 26 May 2023 14:56:50 GMT

Thanks @stephen5000

Does the phone show what has used your data in the settings?

Leanne 🙂

Re: Where did my data go??

stephen5000 — Fri, 26 May 2023 14:59:03 GMT

Unfortunately no, it doesn't...

Re: Where did my data go??

Leanne_T — Fri, 26 May 2023 15:01:46 GMT

I see @stephen5000

If you would like this looked into, please give us a call on 150 the team will be happy to help 🙂

Leanne.

Re: Where did my data go??

stephen5000 — Fri, 26 May 2023 15:03:34 GMT

That's kind,but I doubt EE will be able to recommend a 3rd party app to monitor live data usage...

Re: Where did my data go??

Leanne_T — Fri, 26 May 2023 15:09:16 GMT

You can monitor data usage in your My EE app or at add-on.ee.co.uk @stephen5000

Leanne.

Re: Where did my data go??

stephen5000 — Fri, 26 May 2023 15:16:39 GMT

Yes, but only historically, to see what you 'spent' in the past, and you can't analyse where you have spent it so you can economise in the future. If you have the influence to suggest a 'live monitor' for an EE app update, I'm sure it won't be just me that would find it useful.

I can tell exactly how many texts I use by looking at them (though I never do as they are unlimited)

I can tell how many call minutes I use as my recent calls will show me the duration and who I called (but I never do because they are unlimited)

I can't tell where my data goes, yet this is where the big bucks of income for EE is derived from LOL I can see why it's kept a secret, but annoying nonetheless...

You wouldn't go to a supermarket, and get charged an amount the day after for a trolley of items you had no idea you picked - same principal... 😁

Re: Where did my data go??

Leanne_T — Fri, 26 May 2023 15:18:39 GMT

Thanks for the feedback @stephen5000

Leanne.

Re: Where did my data go??

Suspiria — Sat, 03 Jun 2023 07:08:11 GMT

I have had a similar problem in the last 24 hours. Despite mostly being connected to WiFi at home and work I seem to have used up nearly 3gb of data in that time. I received a text at 21.04 last night saying I had used 80% of my 4gb of data. Three and a half hours later I received another text saying 100% had been used. During that period I was at home connected to Wifi and all I did on my phone was check the Euromillions numbers (and no I wasn't the one who won £117 million!)

Below I have taken a screenshot from my phone which shows the data usage from today (3rd June, mostly spent asleep) and clearly the figures don't add up! Am I missing something?

Re: Where did my data go??

Christopher_G — Sat, 03 Jun 2023 07:16:14 GMT

Hi @Suspiria

Welcome to the community.

What kind of phone are you using? Has your WiFi signal been quite strong throughout?

Chris

Re: Where did my data go??

Suspiria — Sat, 03 Jun 2023 07:19:09 GMT

Hi. It's an Oppo Find X3 Neo 5G. Yes the signal has been fine.

Re: Where did my data go??

Christopher_G — Sat, 03 Jun 2023 07:21:43 GMT

OK, thank you @Suspiria

The data usage isn't in real-time. It can sometimes take a little longer for it to catch up with data used earlier making it seem like it's being deducted whilst you're connected to WiFi. If you don't think this is the case, I would recommend speaking to our technical support team.

Chris

Re: Where did my data go??

Suspiria — Sat, 03 Jun 2023 07:23:04 GMT

Ok many thanks, will do.

Re: Where did my data go??

stephen5000 — Sat, 03 Jun 2023 08:21:41 GMT

@Christopher_G wrote:
OK, thank you @Suspiria
The data usage isn't in real-time. It can sometimes take a little longer for it to catch up with data used earlier making it seem like it's being deducted whilst you're connected to WiFi. If you don't think this is the case, I would recommend speaking to our technical support team.
Chris

It's a case of your word against theirs. I was exactly the same, I was 100% connected to WiFi, yet my 'data; just disappeared. Because EE offer no way whatsoever of showing a customer where/when their data has been moved, it's a disgraceful situation. I do believe there was a massive tech glitch that just ate up people's data, and only a few of us noticed!

Data will be the next usage scandal that hits the headlines.

Those of us old enough to remember, will recall when networks offered the 'cross network' deal, where calls to the same network were free (to encourage friends/family to be on the same network), yet 'cross' networks were charged at a premium. The primary issue being, have a look at you contact book, can you tell what network a number is using? No, neither could the millions of customers that were ripped off paying premium rates and not knowing till their monthly invoice arrived. Even then, you were forced to pay £2.50 for an itemised bill! Can you imagine your local supermarket charging £2.50 for a receipt? LOL The whole thing is a carefully planned scam...

Re: Where did my data go??

NormanOr — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 11:21:11 GMT

I have JUST been forced from Plusnet to EE - both BT companies - Plusnet gave you details of your daily usage, not EE. On average I used 1 to 2 Gb of data each MONTH, Apple CarPlay and Apple Maps. After just over one WEEK with EE I have apparently used 2 Gb of data and I have NO idea where it's gone! When indoors I am under a Plusnet fibre contract so no WiFi issues.

Why is EE usage so different to Plusnet and where are the daily usage statistics? Fortunately I was only 'forced' onto a monthly contract as a result of Plusnet leaving the mobile 'phone market.

Two companies under the same umbrella with such disparate methods of operation? 🤔

Re: Where did my data go??

stephen5000 — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 12:30:46 GMT

Interesting to note that PlusNet already do, what I was told was impossible to do by EE!